The New Mexico pistachio farm, McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch and Winery Gift Shop, known locally as PistachioLand, is home to a 30-foot-tall pistachio made of five yards of concrete and 35 gallons of paint. Unveiled in 2008 in Alamogorodo, New Mexico, the World’s Largest Pistachio is not only a great roadside attraction in every possible sense, it’s also a loving tribute from a son to his recently passed father.
Built as a memorial to Tom McGinn, the founder of McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch who died the previous year. The World’s Largest Pistachio mesmerizes roadside attraction enthusiasts with its bright colors and realistic likeness to an otherwise small tree nut.
According to the Alamogordo Daily News, Tim McGinn, the son of Tom, thought a big pistachio would be the perfect tribute to his dad, who loved visiting roadside attractions and dedicated his life to the farm where the attraction now stands.
Technically located between Alamogordo and Tularosa, the pistachio has over the years since its dedication gained a certain degree of celebrity. Amongst roadside attraction enthusiasts it has become a destination worthy of visitation for its own merit.
A bronze plaque at the base of the giant pistachio reads:
“Tom dreamed big, expected big, and accomplished big things.
He would have said the monument is not big enough!”
The World’s Largest Pistachio Facts
- During its dedication, the pistachio was blessed by a priest from nearby La Luz.
- The World’s Largest Pistachio stands 30-feet tall and weighs approximately 20,500 lbs (9,300 kg).
- The World’s Largest Pistachio is not an actual pistachio.
- The pistachio stands upright on a pole anchored in nine feet deep.
- Address: 7320 US Hwy 54-70, Alamogordo, NM.
- There are a number pistachio based products for sale at PistachioLand including chili-chocolate pistachio brittle and homemade pistachio milkshakes.
- It took 35 gallons of paint to get just the right look for the pistachio.
